Want your child to eat healthy? Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) is bringing salad bars to all high schools to increase access to nutritious food.
APS Food and Nutrition Services has officially expanded its GreEnergy Spots salad bars to all district high schools. The program followed a successful pilot earlier this year at Eldorado and Highland High Schools.
The expansion brings back salad bars to high school campuses for the first time in years. It gives students a fresh option as part of their free daily lunch.
Students helped shape the program through collaboration with a gifted health class at Eldorado. They shared feedback on the fresh options they wanted to see in their cafeterias. Their ideas guided the creation of GreEnergy Spots, which feature fresh greens, seasonal vegetables, proteins, and dressings.
The salad bars also support the goals of New Mexico’s Healthy Universal School Meals program. They emphasize scratch-cooked foods and New Mexico Grown ingredients whenever possible.
In addition to providing healthy choices for students, the initiative helps reduce food waste and supports local farmers.
Food and Nutrition Services Executive Director Marie Johnson said the districtwide expansion reflects APS’s commitment to listening to students. She added that the district invests in meal options that support student health and learning.
“We are incredibly proud to bring GreEnergy Spots to all of our high schools,” she said. “This expansion reflects the passion and dedication of our entire Food and Nutrition Services team, who work every day to make sure our students have access to fresh, healthy meals they truly enjoy. Seeing students excited about these options and knowing we’re supporting local farmers at the same time makes this work incredibly meaningful.”
APS is already planning the next phase as salad bars become available at every high school. The district aims to introduce GreEnergy Spots in middle schools during the 2026-27 school year, pending additional funding and grants.